UNCENSORED FILM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 693, 19 June 1929, Page 9

UNCENSORED FILM

PICTURE THEATRE MANAGER CONVICTED FIRST CASE IN NEW ZEALAND (From Our Oicn Correspondent) HAMILTON, Today. An interesting case, the first to be brought under the Cinematograph Films Act, 1928, was heard in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr. F. W. Platts, S.M . when Sydney Tombs, manager of Hamilton Theatres, Ltd., was charged with showing an uncensored film in theatres under his control. The facts as outlined by DetectiveSergeant .T. Thompson were that on May 24. when Miss Nells Walker, who was walking the world, visited Hamilton, she approached the defendant requesting that she be allowed to exhibit a. cinematograph film of her travels in various parts of the world. The film was not more than I,oooft in length. The agreement was that no charge should be made, but that Miss Walker be permitted to sell books or pamphlets in the theatre. Mr. Tombs had been told by Miss Walker that no exception had been taken to the film by other theatre managers. The film was not censored as provided by the Act, although no exception was taken to the film, which described the travels of Miss Walker, and her tour of the world. When interviewed, added the -detective, Tombs had been quite frank, and had told him that he had not seen the film. Mr. N. Johnson, for the defendant, said the question was really a most trivial one, and the department wanted publicity more than a penalty. The manager of the company, Mr. Tombs, should not have any conviction re- ; corded against him personally, but if any conviction were entered it should be against the company. Strictly speaking, the operator was as much to blame as Mr. Tombs. In entering a conviction against Mr. Tombs, with costs, the magistrate remarked that the case was not so trivial as to allow him to dismiss the charge. It was, however, manifestly one of inadvertence on the part of Mr. Tombs.